Alabama

'American Whistleblower Tour' coming to Auburn University on Monday

AUBURN,
Alabama -- The "American Whistleblower Tour: Essential Voices for Accountability"
will make a stop at Auburn University Monday night.

The
university's School of Accountancy arranged the event.

A public panel
discussion will feature prominent whistleblowers Sherron Watkins, speaking
about the Enron scandal, and Kenneth Kendrick, speaking about the scandal
involving the Peanut Corporation of America and Salmonella-tainted peanut
butter.

The tour is
a campaign of the Government Accountability Project, a non-profit, non-partisan
advocacy organization based in Washington. The organization promotes
government and corporate accountability through litigating whistleblower cases,
publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms.

"The tour
offers our students and the public an opportunity to hear the stories of two
very important whistleblowers. Students will be able to hear firsthand about the
courageous stand that these two individuals have made to speak out about what
they believe is right. We are excited they are sharing their stories with our
students," said Sarah Stanwick, Taylor Associate Professor of Accounting, in a
release from the university.

Watkins was
vice president of corporate development at Enron. She was an employee when the
scandal broke in 2001. She testified before congressional committees
investigating Enron's demise and was named one of TIME Magazine's 2002 Persons
of the Year.

Kendrick is
the former assistant plant manager for the Peanut Corporation of America in
Plainview, Texas. In 2008 and 2009, more than 700 people were affected by
Salmonella-tainted peanut butter said to be traced to the company's Georgia
plant. Kendrick appeared on ABC's Good Morning America and made statements
about the company's safety practices.

The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30 at 113A Lowder Hall.